Hello all.

I am looking to learn all about web-design with the view setting up a part-time business at first with a view to going full-time eventually.

The question i have is would it be feasible to learn on my own from books, trial and error etc. or would i need to enroll in a proper course considering the fact that i wish to make a career out of designing web-sites. All help and advice greatfully recieved.

Cheers guys

You certainly can learn it on your own. I do more than designing websites (I script them as well), and I can make a decent living with it. I learned everything on my own from books & the internet, so I don't see a reason why you couldn't. It just takes time.

Originally Posted by Orodreth

You certainly can learn it on your own. I do more than design websites (I script them as well), and I can make a decent living with it. I learned everything on my own from books & the internet, so I don't see a reason why you couldn't. It just takes time.

Thanks for your time in answering my question Orodreth. Its much appreciated.

Bu11d0g, most people who work as web designers and developers are probably self taught. It's more about the skill you have than the piece of paper you get through school.

There's nothing wrong with taking a formal course and some people do learn better that way, but if you can teach it to yourself you'll be fine.

I think most of us here are self taught.

Yep self taught is the way to go. Experiment on what you do.

Thats how all the best started (and me )

Originally Posted by vangogh

Bu11d0g, most people who work as web designers and developers are probably self taught. It's more about the skill you have than the piece of paper you get through school.

There's nothing wrong with taking a formal course and some people do learn better that way, but if you can teach it to yourself you'll be fine.

I think most of us here are self taught.

Thanks for the info Vangogh and Adam. I learn better by actually doing things for myself rather than people showing what i should do hence the question. Thanks for your input once again

Glad to help. I learn best with a combination of theory and practice. I like to read to get the theory and then just start coding to get the practice. I also try to learn at least one new thing on every new site I build.

Originally Posted by vangogh

Glad to help. I learn best with a combination of theory and practice. I like to read to get the theory and then just start coding to get the practice. I also try to learn at least one new thing on every new site I build.

That's some good advice there Vangogh about learning a new thing on each new build and like you i learn in much the same way. I read some theory on a subject then put it into practice by doing it.

I usually start any new topic with a trip to the bookstore. I like books. I'll spend a half hour grabbing 3 or 4 intro kind of books and then another hour reading through parts of each and then take one or two home.

After I get the theory I look for a book or tutorial online that I can follow along with for practice.

After that I just practice and try to solve problems as they come up. I always try to understand why a solution works instead of just making it work too. I think that helps with the next problem.

Now that I've been at it a few years it's easy for me to develop a site, but I like to try something new with each one. It usually means I have to spend a little time looking something up or figuring it out on my own. Learning one thing may not seem like a lot, but you do it all the time and look back a few months later and it's amazing how much more you realize you know.

As usual Vangogh you are full of worthy advice and im glad uv took the time to help me by sharing some of your knowledge with me. I now feel more capable of teaching myself and hopefully running a successful business in the future. Thanks for your time once again mate

I just bought a very good book designed for beginners on html & css, I think self taught and learning from friends is the best way, courses are great but with things ever changing with web design it kinda defys the purpose, in the end they could be a good grounding but seriously read loads and practice

part time business. i can tell you that you need at least one year "amatuar" exprience if you want to become succesful at what you do -for any rofesion. If you dont even know how to build a html site by now, i suggest i start learning html and java. There are many GOOD web designers out there, and to get the clients u need to be better. i suggest you buy dreamweaver - learn how to use it - make an amatuar affiliate site and see how it goes and improve ur skills. good luck, Roy.

Originally Posted by woosh

I just bought a very good book designed for beginners on html & css, I think self taught and learning from friends is the best way, courses are great but with things ever changing with web design it kinda defys the purpose, in the end they could be a good grounding but seriously read loads and practice

Hey there Woosh. Do you have the title/author of the above mentioned book please. Cheers for your reply.

Originally Posted by roy77

part time business. i can tell you that you need at least one year "amatuar" exprience if you want to become succesful at what you do -for any rofesion. If you dont even know how to build a html site by now, i suggest i start learning html and java. There are many GOOD web designers out there, and to get the clients u need to be better. i suggest you buy dreamweaver - learn how to use it - make an amatuar affiliate site and see how it goes and improve ur skills. good luck, Roy.

Thanks for the valuable info Roy. Just a few questions tho; I've seen quite a few posts from users on WT saying that u should steer clear of programs like Dreamweaver because it adds to much code to the site that your designing. Also could you explain an "amatuer affiliate site" please, or do you just mean designing an uploading a normal site.

Thank you for your time and efforts mate.

Dreamweaver's not that bad. I actually generates quite clean code. Of course, writing it yourself is still better, but Dreamweaver's very good at that too.

I myself don't use it anymore, but Dreamweaver's not bad.

Also, eventhough learning java is nice, it is absolutely not needed to design a standard site. HTML, CSS and Javascript are handy, and once you mastered these, you could start learning Java if you really want to make applets, or flash, which is quite good for web design. The next step would be to use Java, PHP, ASP, Python, Perl, Ruby or another language to make a dynamic site. This all is for more advanced coders however. Start with HTML & CSS.

Thanks for the info Orodreth on Dreamwreaver. Im planning on learning HTML and CSS first and design a few websites to start with and to gain some valuable experience.

i went to college and did a basic web design course, it actually got me more interested in the subject, i learnt the basics in college but learnt a hell of alot more by myself, books are good, but there are so many resources online now its even easier!

The problem with not having the qualification is 1) employers usually look for that and will select people with qualifications over the unqualified and 2) If your setting up on your own (like i did) the banks and clients like to see qualifications, and just makes it even harder to make a successful start up

This is only my opinion, it probably differs from person to person and across various countries, but i wish you good luck!!

Originally Posted by McBone

i went to college and did a basic web design course, it actually got me more interested in the subject, i learnt the basics in college but learnt a hell of alot more by myself, books are good, but there are so many resources online now its even easier!

The problem with not having the qualification is 1) employers usually look for that and will select people with qualifications over the unqualified and 2) If your setting up on your own (like i did) the banks and clients like to see qualifications, and just makes it even harder to make a successful start up

This is only my opinion, it probably differs from person to person and across various countries, but i wish you good luck!!

Thanks for the wise words m8. It is something worth thinking about.

i think if you look at your local colleges you may find a course maybe a morning a week or something similar, and get a qualification that way, it will be a basic one, but its something to show and from then your portfolio should be enough to see you through